Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Krissy!!!!! Having you for a sister is one of God's greatest gifts in my life. You have always put your all in anything you do whether it's running, teaching, or just being there for us. Your students are so blessed to have you. I know you always talk about them being such an inspiration in your life, but I think if they could talk, they would certainly tell you that you are the inspiration in their lives. Your love, hard work and dedication is reaping eternal rewards. I am so proud of you!!! I love you and miss you like crazy!!!

Have a wonderful day! (and again, dead sorry about mailing the gift late, man)

Summer

Well, I might as well update my whole summer since it's been so long since I've posted. Time flies when you're having fun and that's how our summer has been, fun-filled but flying by. We went to family camp in June and had a wonderful, refreshing vacation. It's almost like a family reunion each year we go back. We love going there! The Wilds of New England opened up this year in New Hampshire. So, Matthew went away to camp all by himself. (a big step for mommy!) He is pictured here with his counselor. (and lest you think he fell on his face, that is war paint from the night before) He absolutely loved his time at camp. He and his friends from church all got to room together, so that made it even better. He is growing up so fast and it won't be long before we have a teenager! -sniff-

And speaking of those who are growing up too quickly....We celebrated Dad's 60th birthday this summer! In my mom's words, "He looks pretty stinken good for 60!" I agree! Dad is an ex-marine, so he has always been the picture of fitness. Although Dad has made exercise important in his life, nothing is more important to him than his walk with the Lord. He is an example of

1 Timothy 4:8 and has always "exercised himself unto godliness." Each of one us girls know that our dad loves us beyond belief and each one of us knows that we are "his favorite daughter." :o) -wink, wink Dad, don't worry I know the truth. If we need godly advice our dad is there. He is an example of what a true Godly leader looks like. Dad's birthday was fun day, filled with laughing and family togetherness. Living with all of us girls has rubbed off on Dad. We bought Dad these silly glasses so he could proudly show off his age. And of course he did it to make us laugh.

One of the girls favorite past times this summer has been hitching a ride on the back of Grampy's bike. I came home one day and my mouth fell open. There was our little Annie on the back of his bike. Annie is our shyest and most "non-adventuresome" child. So, this was a shock indeed! She loves her Grampy so if anyone could convince her to get on the bike, he could. (of course, he did bribe her with Oreos to get on) However! no Oreos are needed any more! She loves it!

Emma, waiting for her turn on the bike. (and probably getting an earful of ants)


Joel accomplished a long time goal of his this summer. He finished his first triathalon. It was a 1/2 mile swim, 30 mile bike ride and a 7 1/2 mile run. He loved it and is looking forward to his next triathalon. He is trying to convince me to do one with him next year because it was "so much fun." I might need some more convincing of exactly where the fun was. Let's not forget I was the one standing at the finish line, watching grimacing faces cross over and then collapsing. I do have to admit though that there were some sweet moments. As I stood there and watched teams of people high fiving, encouraging one another, husbands hugging their wives, children cheering for their daddies and holding up posters, even some people that were in their 70's crossing that finish line, I began thinking "yeah, this is cool." So maybe next year, I'll be posting pictures of us together.

To my one fan!

Liz Ogden is the winner!!!!!! Thank you for tuning in...even, though it was a month later! I was touched and moved that someone out there actually still cared about this blog. In return, I hope you will be touched and moved by my poem. I've worked long and hard on it over the past several days. It was written with you in mind. Here's to you, Liz!

:::clearing my throat:::

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Liz checks my blog

Why don't the rest of you, too?

(just so you all know I've copyrighted it. Don't steal it without my permission!)

REWARD! for someone who actually cares.

This trophy could be yours just for being nice. I've hired these 4 beautiful ladies to help get the word out that I still have a blog. Is anyone out there still checking my blog? Does anyone even care any more? First comment will get a special dedication post.

Mary wants to be a "luthier"

Ok, class, who knows what a "luthier" is? I can hear Jeopardy's theme song playing right now, as the wheels in your heads are turning. I'm about to give you the answer by way of pictures, so scroll down and start guessing.....

I'll give you a hint....the luthier is wearing the green apron

Second hint, it has something to do with violins

And the answer is: A luthier is someone who makes and fixes violins. A month ago, we rented a book from the library on violins. The word, "luthier," kept coming up, sparking Mary's attention. At our next violin lesson, she asked her teacher for more facts about a luthier and wouldn't you know it, her violin teacher was going to see a luthier to have her violin bow re-haired. She invited Mary to come along. We found out many facts such as:

The best kind of horse hair for a bow comes from male Siberian horses.

The best wood to make a bow is grown only on trees in Brazil.

The glue that is used to put violins together is not Elmer's.

A luthier tends to like cats for her pets.

Our luthier was a very, nice lady that allowed us to come into her home and look around her studio. She took a lot of time to answer all of Mary's questions, even the silly ones like, "Did you ever cut yourself with one of those knives?" (for those of you still wondering, the answer is, yes she has, but nothing serious.) As we were getting ready to leave, the luthier took a book off of her shelf, and gave it to Mary. She said, she enjoyed meeting her and wanted her to have it. As I tucked Mary into bed that evening, she was holding her book under her arm. She looked up at me with the biggest grin on her face and said,
"Mommy, I really wish I could be a luthier right now." It was a good day!

Anna Grace....again!!!

Yesterday, I had a particularly busy day with the kids. First of all, I had made chocolate pudding and put it in a glass container in the refrigerator. The next time the refrigerator door was opened....CRASH! There were tiny slivers of glass and chocolate pudding everywhere! I began wiping the pudding that was dripping down the cabinets and clearing away glass. My little bare foot children stood watching on the sidelines with their mouths hanging wide open. Well, almost all of them were standing there watching. I didn't notice that one was missing. Anna Grace seized the moment (and my lipstick) and took off. When I stood up and turned around, I saw this...







Why is it that whenever there is trouble, I am always bumping into this face?!!

The Hershey Kiss

I got one of those huge Hershey kisses for Valentines Day. I was using it for decoration on my dining room table. It looked so cute there among my flowers and heart decorations. One day as I was passing through the dining room, I encountered this:

At first, I was shocked and then frightened. Did we have mice?! And could those mice unwrap that foil with such deliberate intentions? I mean, what else would leave those bucky tooth marks?!!! It had to be a mouse, or could it be somebody living within the 4 walls of my home? It was now time for me to get all dental records on everyone in this entire household.


and the guilty party is...........................

Anna Grace, my dessert-deprived child!

Well, ya know, they say that chocolate has its "health benefits." If that's true, than my Annie is the healthiest girl on earth!


PS This statement has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Who are those people anyway? Do they approve anything anymore?

Matthew's art

Matthew got an art set for Christmas and here is what he has been doing. When he brought me the first picture, I didn't believe that he drew it. I thought he had traced it. He said, "No, I didn't trace it. I just followed the directions in my book." So, with me hovering over him, he took out his book and made the second picture. Honestly, I still wouldn't believe he made these if I wasn't standing right beside him. But I can assure you, this is all of his work! Brace yourself now...you're in for a treat.

 
 
 
 

I'm lovin the little signature on this one! 

Stars On Ice

I took the kids ice skating about two weeks ago. It was their first time being out on the ice. In case anyone is wondering, I got first place in an ice skating competition when I was 9 years old. I had to do "forward skulling" and "backward skulling." I think now would be the perfect time to share with you, my reading friends, that REBECCA KATHLEEN HAS STILL GOT IT. I was a forward-skulling maniac out there!

 

Emma, brave and fearless as always. I said to her, "Emma, step out onto the ice and let me take your picture." Well didn't that little dare devil take TWO steps out onto the ice! She was pretty stinken hilarious out there on those two tiny skates.

 

My back is still hurting from this business.

 

Despite the fact that an entire school showed up while we were ice skating, we still had fun.-and let me tell you, that didn't stop me ONE bit, from showing off my skating abilities to my daughters and my nieces....ok, and maybe the entire school. Hey! I bear the name "First Place Forward Skuller" proudly! (sounds like I should have earned a wrestling belt intead of a blue ribbon.) 

Grandpa's Little Helpers

 
We went to visit Grandpa and Grammie Browning last week. Grandpa had to unload a whole bunch of wood and Emma wasn't about to let him have all the fun for himself.
 
It didn't take long for my masculine men to come out to help Grandpa get the work done.
 
 
Mikey ended up outlasting everyone. Joel and I had gone out on a date and when we returned, Mikey was still working away. Grandpa told us that at one point, he had to make him stop and go inside to rest for a little bit. But our little workaholic was pulling him off the recliner saying, "C'mon Grandpa, we have to go do work." So, DeAnna, he may be afraid of cows, but rest assure that your Isabella will be getting a hardworking man as her husband! :o) 

Christmas

Ok, so I'm a little late in posting here but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We had a wonderful time just being together. It was wonderful having Dad, Mom and Krissy home. I was the designated driver to the airport and I must say it was much more fun picking them up than dropping them off. It's so hard to drive away, with tears in your eyes, not knowing when we'll see eachother again. I certainly am thankful for the wonderful memories we made together this past Christmas. -Can I say "wonderful" one more time? (awkward!)

Here are a couple of the kids' favorite presents.



Emma was thrilled to finally have an outfit to match what she's always known to be true, "I am THE princess of this home!" The child has not taken her outfit off since she received it.




Joel was equally as thrilled with his Spiderman costume. Hang on here, oh nope that's Mikey. (Sorry, the abs and pecs were throwing me off.) I can't tell you how many times Mikey has come running around the corner and scared the bologna outta me. Of course he thinks it's hilarious that he made me scream, and will spend the rest of the day trying to scare me. It's very cute to hear the giggles under that mask.



Wow! and to think that Superman is actually able to lift off and fly with that bulk! I must say that I feel completely secure with all these superheroes in my home.